Electric heater



R. E. WOODS ET AL ELECTRIC HEATER Filed Oct. 20. 1925 Patented neef 7, 192e.I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. WOODS AND JAMES D. WATKINS, F POBTERVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

' Application filed October 20, 1925. Serial No.63,707.

This invention relates to improvements in heaters, and has for its principal object to provide a highly simple and novel means for heating air which circulates upwardly through the heater.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide an electric heater which is of such construction as to permit the same to be placed in any desirable place 'in a room for the purpose of heating the air therein at a low temperature.

A further Objectis to provide an electric heater of the above mentioned vcharacter which is simple in construction, inexpensive, and furthermore adapted to the purposes for which the same is designed.

Other-objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the. following description.

In the accompanying 'drawing vformlng part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same Fio'ure 1` is a top plan view of the electricheater embodying our invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is a. front elevation of the heater element supporting means.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose 'of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 1 designates generally our improved electric heater, the same comprising a rectangularshaped casing which includes the end members 2, the side walls 3 and the top or cover 4. The top is provided with downwardly extending` flanges 5 at its respective edges so as to permit the same to t over the upper edges of the end and side walls respectively of the casing for further securing the cover in position on the to of the casing, suitable screws such as are siown at 6 may be employed.

The top or cover 4 is provided in its central portion or its intermediate portion with a series of closely arranged openings 7. A series of spaced openings 8 are also formed in the top or cover 4 adjacent the longitudinal side thereof and the purpose of these openings will be hereinafterv more fully described.

The lower edges of the side walls 3 of the casing terminate at a point above the lower edges of the end walls 2 in the Inanner as clearly shown in Fig. 2 to provide an air inlet 9 at each side of the bottom of the casing. The bottom of each of thc end walls 2 is also cut away as indicated at 10 to provide what we, term as sul'iporting feet 11, whereby the heater may rest in a proper osition on the fioor.

A ba e plate 12 extends longitudinally within the lower portion of the casing, thc ends of the baie plate being secured to the respective end walls of the casino in any suitable manner. As is clearly siown in Fig. 2, the longitudinal side edges of the bailie plate are spaced from the respective side walls of the casing so as not to interfere with the circulation otl air upwardly through the casing upon entering the latter at. theentrance 9. The baille plate is preferably located at a point adjacent the ottoni edges of the side walls 3.

Extending longitudinally within the up'- per portion of the casing are partitions 13.`

In the present instance, two of such partitions are provided', the same extending between the ends 2 of the casing and are pre1L- erably arranged adjacent the respective sides of the casing. The lupper edges of the partit-ions are disposed substantially flushA with the upper edges of the side and end walls of the casing and the lower edges of the parl titions terminate at a point above the lower edges of the side walls. These partitions thus provide a. relatively large central conipartment 14 and relatively narrow end coinpartments 15. The purpose of these compartments will be presently apparent.

A series of vertically arranged and parallel spaced metallic strips 16, have their upper and lower ends disposed laterally as clearly illustrated at 17 and 18 respectively. The laterally disposed upper ends 17 are welded or otherwise secured to the bottom of the top or cover 4e inthe intermediate portion thereof and adjacent the respective ends.

The laterally disposed lower ends 18 of each series of vertically arranged strips are secured to the cross strips 19 in the manner as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The cross strips .provide a means for holding the lower ends of the vertical strips in parallel spaced relation and these cross strips are of such length as to permit the same to be disposed within the central compartment 14.

Each of the vertically arranged strips 16 is provided with a series of openings 20 for permitting the respective ends of the electric heating elements designated generally by thenumeral .21 to be yattached there-` vertical strips 16 so as to have the heating 4of vertical strips.

elements on one Apair vof strips'disposed in staggered relation with respect to the heating elements carried by the ladjacent pair As the electric heating elements are all of any well-known construction, a further detailed description thereof is not thought necessary.

By attaching the electric heating element supporting means to the intermediate por tion ot the bottom of thetop or cover 4, the same mav be readily placed within or removed from the central compartment 14.

With the parts arranged as shown in the drawing, it is obvious that cold air will enter the casing through the entrance 9 and will circulate upwardly thru the central. compartment 14 and the end compartment- 15. It is of course understood that the electric heating elements or units 21 are connected to a suitable source of relectric current in any well known manner and as the air circulates upwardly through the casing, the same will become heated and will escape through the openings 7 and 8 provided in the top or cover 4 so as to cause a constant supply of heated air within the room in which the electric heater is placed. For the purpose of facilitating the handling of the electric heater to further permit the same to be carried from place to place, suitable handles such as shown at 22 are attached to the end walls of the casing.

The provision of the partitions 13 and the end compartment 15 will prevent the side walls 3 of the casing from becoming excessively hot. Furthermore the provision of the baiile plate 12 will prevent the downward reection of the heat to further restrict the flow of incoming cold air into the central compartment 14. If desired a pan of Water. may be placed on the baiiiey plate to act as a humidifier. The pan is illustrated at 23 in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The electric cord which leads from a suitable source-of supply is adapted to extend through a suitable bushing 24 rovided therefor in one of the end walls o the casing and may be attached to the electric heating elements in any suitable manner.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that an electric heater has been provided which will permit the air to be heated at a low temperature very easily and efficiently and the simplicity in which our improved heater is constructed enables series,

the same to be handled and may be being spaced from the bottom of'the endl walls to provide a cold air inlet, longitudinally extending partitions having their ends secured to the respective end walls of the casing, the lower edges of the artitions terminating at a point above t e -lower edges of the side walls of the casing, said partitions providing a central and end air compartment, a series of vertically arranged strips secured at their upper ends to the intermediate portion of the perforated to adjacent the respective ends thereof, addltional strips securing the lower ends of the strips of each series, and heating` elements extending longitudinally within the central compartments and secured at their respective ends to the adjacent strips of each series, the heated air escaping through the perforations provided in the top of the casing.

2. An electric heater comprising a casing including side and end walls, and a erforated top, the bottom of the side walls eing opposed from the bottom of the end walls to provide a cold air inlet, longitudinally extending partitions having thelr ends secured to the respective end walls of the casing, the lower edges of the partitions terminating at a point above the lweredges of the side walls of the casing, said partitions -providing a central-and end air compartment, a series of vertically arranged strips secured at their upper ends to the intermediate portion of the perforated top adjacent the respective ends thereof, additional strips securingl the lower ends ,of the strips of each and heatingy elements extending longitudinally within the central compartments and secured at their respective-ends to the adjacent strips of each series, the heated air escaping` through the perforations provided in the top of the casing, and a bailie plate extending longitudinally within the lower portion of the casing at a point adjacent the lower edges of the side walls.

In testimony whereot` we aix our signatures.

ROBERT E. WOODS. JAlWES D. WATKINS. 

